Kremlin Assures Russia Will Continue to Deepen Ties with North Korea in All Areas

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons.Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia intends to develop and deepen relations with North Korea in all possible areas, in continuation of the agreements reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Pyongyang.

"In continuation of the agreements reached during President Putin's recent visit to Pyongyang, we intend to develop and deepen our relations in all possible areas with one of our closest neighbors even further," he said, as reported by TASS on July 10.

Peskov also commented on journalists' requests for media reports about the visit of a North Korean military academy delegation to Russia. He recommended asking the Russian Defense Ministry for clarification.

As previously reported, a North Korean elite military training delegation departed for a visit to Russia. This activity is related to the first military exchange between the two countries since their leaders signed an agreement promising closer military cooperation.

The rector of Kim Il Sung Military University, Kim Geum Chol, led the delegation of military training officials and departed by plane on Monday, July 8, state news agency KCNA reported, as reported by Reuters.

No other details were given, including the purpose of the visit and which parts of Russia they visited.

The military university delegation marks the latest visit by North Korea to Russia as they have exchanged several high-level officials in the past year, including a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang in June.

President Putin is known to have made a state visit to the North Korean capital on June 18-19. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited the Russian President to visit during his trip to Russia last September.

As part of President Putin's visit, the two countries signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, an agreement to cooperate in the fields of health care, medical education, and science, as well as building a highway bridge over the Tumannaya River.